DAWN Henning of Fairfield Rise won the Best Kept Small Front Garden category and came second in the Best Kept Small Back Garden category.
The 47-year-old project manager at Northern Trust explained that she enjoys using her garden to unwind from work and juggles her horticultural hobby with her other interests which include dancing and teaching hockey.
She said: "The back garden was rubble when I moved in two and a half years ago so the plants are still quite young.
"I have always loved gardening but never been an expert. I knew nothing when I first started – I met a man selling plants at a school fete and he has been helping me with my gardening ever since.
"I have been going back to him for 15 years," she laughed.
Her award-winning front garden boasts roses, hebes, lavender, penstemons, ceanothus and chrysanthemums as well as hanging baskets and potted plants.
Speaking of her success Miss Henning said: "I still don't know what I'm doing – if I like something I keep it but if I don't I won't."
Her back garden has an abundance of species including edible fruit like strawberries and rhubarb as well as Japanese asa. The tranquil space also showcases a water feature, decking area and pergola.
Miss Henning added: "My nieces love the garden and I'm hoping to inspire them to get into gardening.
"I could spend all day every day here – the day before the judging I was in my garden from 9am until 9.30pm."
BUTTSBURY Junior School on Norsey View Drive were proud to be awarded Best School Vegetable Patch and were placed third in Best School Garden.
The 20-strong team of year five and six pupils from the gardening club helped tend their impressive vegetable plot which offers a crop of cauliflower, broad beans, runner beans, carrots and spring onions, to mention just a few.
Their World War Two-themed garden also caught the judge's eye which included a herb garden and an Anderson Shelter.
Cliff Slater who teaches year fives at the school explained that the children use the vegetables for cooking.
Fran Cripps who is a higher level teaching assistant also helps with the young gardeners. She added that the children really enjoy uncovering the vegetables they have grown themselves.
Mr Slater said: "When they dig up the potatoes it's like their finding nuggets of gold," he laughed.
Sam Ross, 10, said: "It's good to eat the vegetables you've grown."
DANNY Gould of Newlands Road had made an impressive display in a small area and bagged himself Best Vegetable Plot, Best Hanging Basket and came third in Best Kept Small Front Garden.
His hanging basket was packed with bright colours and flowers split over the edges of the container hiding it completely.
The 41-year-old listed endless vegetables and fruits he grew in the space including potatoes, cabbages, giant white onions and beetroot.
He explained that he had been gardening seriously for the past five years and has even changed career due to his new found love of horticulture.
He now owns and runs Gouldy's Gardens where he creates gardens and builds vegetable beds and green houses.
The father-of-one said: "I don't see it as a job – it's so rewarding."
ST PETER'S Catholic School, Coxes Farm Road, was awarded Best School Garden.
Teacher Louise Downey explained that a year four child designed the area which was funded by the friends of the school.
The garden is multi-sensual and the children enjoy the wildlife which settles in the space including the mini-beasts which live under the logs.
The gardening club, which consists of five pupils in year three and four, enjoy tending to the plants and vegetables, many of which have been grown from seed.
Eight-year-old Archie Hepburn said: "I like discovering new species of plants – I am extremely happy that our garden won."
His fellow pupil Anya Dunbar, 8, added: "I like planting and seeing if there are any vegetables that have grown."
MARY Pellatt of Little Norsey Road won Best Kept Large Back Garden, came second in Best Garden Design and third in Best Wildlife Garden.
The retired maths lecturer at Havering College explained that she has entered the competition for the past five years.
She said: "I have always gardened and have a huge variety growing and lots of perennials which are easier than putting things in every year.
"My husband, Mike, helps out too – but I don't let him near the plants," she joked.
Her 100-foot garden is a spectrum of colour and features a pond with waterfall at the end of the space.
Part of Mrs Pellatt's interest in gardening comes from her love of wildlife and she explained that she sees lots of wild animals in her garden including badgers, foxes and squirrels.
She said: "I like to create something that looks like you want it to look.
"I love hebes they have a lovely way of changing colour.
"In the summer I am kept busy with the garden and in the winter I enjoy looking into my ancestry," she added.
